Quick answer
Dot matrix displays are arranged in arrays of small units, often rectangular. They’re classified by shape (round or square) and color (monochrome/two-color or multicolor). Common applications include moving signs, elevator floor displays, and displaying simple information like traffic updates.
Table of Contents
Introduce dot matrix display’s name, type, internal structure, and application scene
Do you know that the moving sign of everyday life and the floor displays in elevators are mostly represented by LED Dot matrix display , and display information can range from English, Arabic numerals, pixilated graphics and Traditional Chinese; This article describes the names, types, internal structures, and scenarios commonly found in everyday life for LED dot matrix display.
The original name of the dot matrix display and it common alias
The definition of a dot matrix display on Wikipedia reads:
Dot-matrix displays are displays that are arranged in arrays (usually rectangles, other shapes but not common) of many small units that can be dimmed (lights or other structures, as long as they differ in color). It can be used to display machine execution status, clock, rail departure instructions, road traffic information and many other simple information that does not require high resolution.
-Wikipedia <Dot matrix display>
In everyday life, dot matrix displays are most often used with black and white LCD displays, and LED displays are used in a variety of electronic products. This article focuses on dot matrix displays made with LED displays. Dot matrix display and 7 segment display has a variety of different descriptions, each country will have a different name, this article collated the industry’s common nickname for the reader’s reference
Because many LED matrix displays are used in everyday life, some are called LED Matrix, LED Dot Display, Dot LED Matrix, Dot Matrix Screen.On other hand, Most electronic scroll / sign display use LED dot matrix displays, Dot matrix display sometimes call in these nickname.
Two characteristics are used to classify common LED dot matrix displays
There are many kinds of LED dot matrix displays common in daily life, and we uses two characteristics to make a simple distinction, namely, the shape of the light-emitting area and the color of the light-emitting, respectively, explained as follows:
Distinguished by the shape of the emitting area
Round dot matrix displays
Round LED dot matrix display is the most common dot matrix display, each light-emitting area, is composed of at least one LED, in order to make the display’s light-emitting uniform, dot is the most common type of dot matrix, such as can refer to the dot matrix standard of the spread photoelectric, point diameter 5mm 5×7 dot matrix display
Square dot matrix displays
Square dot LED dot matrix display is less common than round dots, but is mainly used in elevators sign, scrolling sign …etc. need to display Arabic numerals or English letter. Closing Ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games「ＡＲＩＧＡＴＯ」 the font used is a square dot matrix of 5×7 to display each English text. An example of an LED point matrix display such as can refer to Opto Plus LED Corp. 3ｍｍ 5×7 Standard square dot matrix display。
Distinguished by emitting colors
Multicolor or full-color RGB LED dot matrix display
Multi-color LED dot matrix display are most commonly used in store billboards, traffic signs. On the other hand, Full color LED dot matrix display often use in larger size, small pitch dot matrix display to display high-resolution text and graphics.
Monochrome / Two color dot matrix display
Such displays are most common in the need to display information, but information is relatively simple or low-cost demand for consumer electronics, such as elevators, small low-cost running lights, other common features are: size to small and medium-sized mainly, light-emitting dots are not many, to display single-row English or number-based, light-emitting color to monochrome more, but also two-color applications.
The appearance and internal structure of the LED dot matrix display
Take the standard product 1.9Φ SMD LED 8×8 Dot Matrix Display | 0.76″ Matrix Height from Opto Plus LED Corp. as an example to explain the appearance and internal structure of the LED Dot Matrix Display. The following image (A) (B) shows a diagram of the ANODE Node and cathode (CATHODE Node) of the LED, and OPS-M28810SA look style. The defined PIN angle position and order of the SMD package can be seen in Figure (B).
The appearance of the LED dot matrix display
Circuit diagram and internal structure of the dot matrix display
The next figure (C) shows the OPS-M28811(0)SA circuit diagram and internal structure. The main difference between each product is that the LED placement polarity in each position is the opposite, For OPS-M28810SA, all columns are connected to the LED anode node, and all Rows are connected to the LED cathode node , On the other hand, OPS-M28811SA all columns are connected to the cathode node, all rows are connected to the LED anode anode node. figure (C) shown circuit diagram and the LED location in pin map.
Dot Matrix display’s daily application scenes
Show the English letters – 2020 Tokyo Olympic closing ceremony using the TFT screen to perform the effect of a monochrome square dot matrix display
At the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, the words “ARIGATO” (The English pinyin of Japanese Thank you) were performed with large yellow emitting dot. It is made up of a square monochrome dot matrix, a word that, on the one hand, thanks to the efforts of the various athletes and echoes the ‘SAYONALA’ (the English pinyin of Japanese goodbye) written at the closing ceremony of the last Tokyo Olympics in 1964, in the same font and form.
MRT moving sign – Two color round dot LED dot matrix display
In the MRT carriage moving signs mentioned in the previous classification, a closer look reveals that it is made with an 8×8 LED dot matrix display with a diameter of 1.9 (mm), with the first monochrome block as an example, 64 dots long and 24 dots wide, made from 24 1.9 (mm) 8-by-8 LED Dot Matrix Display, which may be internally packaged as SMD’s 1.9Φ SMD LED 8×8 Dot Matrix Display | 0.76″ Matrix Height or THT version 1.9Φ LED THT 8×8 Dot Matrix Display | 0.76″ Matrix Height to form the moving sign.
Elevator floor display – monochrome square LED dot matrix display
Another common LED display is used in elevators, the following drawing is a yellowing elevator floor display, in the elevator lift process will use animation to display up and down the stairs information, the display uses three 5×7 square dots to represent two letters and an arrow symbol, 5×7 type and TOKYO 2020 Tokyo Olympic closing ceremony ‘ARIGATO’ the same.
Conclusion
This article introduces the name, type, internal structure, and scenario of the Dot Matrix display. Although the Tokyo Olympic closing ceremony using the yellow light 5×7 square dot matrix display is simulated with the TFT screen effect, but daily use, the use of LED square dot matrix display, can be lower cost, show the same effect, if your product has such a need, you can use the Contact form , or send email to the sales@opledtw.com, let OPTO PLUS Corp., which has worked with LED displays since 2009, assist you in designing the most suitable LED display for your application.
FAQ
A dot matrix display is a screen that uses many small light-emitting units (like LEDs) arranged in an array, typically a rectangle, to show text or graphics. It is often used to display simple information that doesn’t require high resolution, such as clocks, train departure indicators, and elevator floors.
Because LED-based dot matrix displays are widely used in daily life, they have many aliases. Common aliases include:
LED Matrix
LED Dot Display
Dot LED Matrix
Dot Matrix Screen
LED Marquee
Sign Display / Signage Display
The article provides two ways to classify them:
By the shape of the light-emitting area: They can be categorized into round dot matrix displays and square dot matrix displays. Round dots are the most common type, while square dots are mainly used in applications like elevators or marquees that need to show square numbers or English letters.
By the color of the light: They can be classified as multi-color or full-color RGB, and single-color or two-color. Full-color dot matrix displays are often used for billboards and traffic signs to show high-resolution text and graphics. Single-color or multi-color displays are common in lower-cost consumer electronics with simpler information, such as elevator floor indicators.
The internal structure of a dot matrix display includes an arrangement of LEDs and a circuit diagram. Taking the OPS-M28810SA/OPS-M28811SA as an example from the article, the main difference lies in the opposite polarity of each LED. The anodes or cathodes of all LEDs are connected to the COLUMN, while the cathodes or anodes are connected to the ROW.
The article gives several specific examples of applications:
Displaying English letters: For example, the word “ARIGATO” was shown using a dot matrix effect during the closing ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Elevators also often use 5×7 dot matrix displays to show letters.
MRT marquees: The marquees in Taipei MRT carriages use two-color round LED dot matrix displays to show route and station information.
Elevator floor displays: Many elevators use single-color square dot LED matrix displays to show floor information and up/down arrows in an animated way.
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